Bottle holder



1964 J. A. ALLOY 3,151,828

BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Dec. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l HUWW INVENTOR.

wag/mtg HTTOBMEY Oct. 6, 1964 J. A. ALLOY 3,151,828

BOTTLE HOLDER Filed Dec. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.JoMAAZMy BY 0 f w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,151,828 BOTTLE HDLDER John A. Alloy, 166-41 Powells Cove Blvd, Whitestone, N.Y. Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,877 2 Claims. (Cl. 248104) The present invention relates to a childs bottle holding device. More particularly, the present invention relates .to a bottle-holding device for use in conjunction with a childs chair or similar type of furniture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a childs bottle holding device which will eliminate any need to retrieve or adjust the bottle once it has been given to the child.

It is another object of this invention to provide a childs bottle holding device which holds the bottle in such a fashion that it cannot be disengaged by the child using it.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a childs bottle holding device which can be conveniently engaged or disengaged with a baby chair or like article of furniture by someone other than the child.

It is still another object to provide a childs feeding device which will firmly hold the bottle when engaged with associated furniture and also when disengaged.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of a bottle holder of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows the device of FIGURE 1 holding a childs bottle and engaged with the arms of a childs chair or like furniture,

FIGURE 3 is a partial plan view of the arrangement of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 shows, in a fragmentary view, the device of FIGURE 1 partially disengaged from the chair arm,

FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of the device of FIGURE 1 attached to a childs chair and illustrates its ;mode of operation,

FIGURE 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, and

FIGURE 7 shows a more detailed view of the device of FIGURE 1.

With reference to the drawing, FIGURE 1 shows a. helical resilient coil 1 having resilient extension 3 and inwardly directed end portions 5 which are referred to herein as S-shaped although they could equally well be described as Z-shaped. The coil of FIGURE 1 comprises one or more loops, usually two although the number of loops is not critical. Also, the loops need not be circular but can be of a configuration which will fit and hold a childs feeding bottle or other container in the manner hereinafter described.

The resilient coil 1 can be expanded by moving the resilient extensions 3 toward each other. When the coil 1 is expanded, a feeding bottle 7 can be inserted as shown in FIGURE 2, and when the resilient extensions, or arms, are released, the bottle is firmly held so that it cannot be removed by a child. Likewise, there is no danger of the bottle falling from the holder when being handled or carried about.

FIGURE 2, showing the bottle 7 being held by the coil 1, also illustrates the S-shaped end portions 5 of resilient extensions 3 pivotally engaged in slots 10 of the arms 9 of a childs chair or similar furniture. FIGURE 3 more particularly indicates the arrangement of slot 10.

It can be seen that S-shaped end portions prevent the bottle holding device from being lifted accidentally away from the chair arms by the part of the arms designated as 11 which acts as a stop to limit movement of the coil. ,Also, the part of the chair arm indicated as 13 acts as a stop which limits inward movement of the resilient extensions 3.

Further, the part of the arm 15 acts as a stop and limits the outward movement of the resilient extensions 3. Also stop 15 limits downward movement of the resilient extensions. Thus it can be seen that the chair arms, in the arrangement illustrated, constitute latches for the respective resilient extensions which prevent disengagement of the bottle holder by a child seated in the chair between the chair arms. Also, the latches are arranged to permit the coil and bottle to be pivoted, however, the movement of the S-shaped portions in the latches is limited as shown so that the resilient extensions cannot be moved to the extent that the bottle will be loosened or released by the coil.

FIGURE 4 shows how the bottle holding device can be readily engaged or disengaged from the chair arms by someone other than a child seated in the chair.

In FIGURE 4, the illustrated resilient extension has been flexed by a rotational force as shown so that the final portion 17 of the S-shaped member is in alignment with the slot or opening 10 between stop 11 and stop 15. This flexing force can be applied by grasping the illustrated resilient extension in the portion indicated as 19 and applying a counter-clockwise twisting motion. A clockwise twisting movement would be used to obtain the same result with the other resilient arm.

With the final part of the S-shaped member in the position as shown, the member can be moved into engagement with the chair arm or disengaged as the case may be. It is quite apparent that a child seated in the chair, with the bottle holder engaged, would not be able, by either strength or inclination, to manipulate the device in a manner which could result in disengagement.

FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of the bottle holding device in operation. It can be seen that the device can be moved freely back and forth by a child seated or reclining in the chair. Also, if the child loses the bottle and the holder falls away, it can easily be retrieved by the child, without assistance, merely by pulling on the resilient arms.

The following example will further illustrate the present invention.

Example A inch diameter steel wire, sheated in inch plastic tubing is deformed to the shape of a 2-turn resilient helical coil having resilient extensions and S-shaped terminal members as illustrated in the drawing. In its relaxed condition, as shown in FIGURE 1, the inner diameter of the sheated coil is 2% inches. The separation between the turns of the coil is approximately inch. The portion of the first and last loops indicated as 21 in the drawing is inch. The portion of the resilient arms indicated as 23 is 4 inches and the portion 25 is 3 /2 inches. The included angle 27 between portions 23 and 25 is about degrees. The resilient arms are bent as shown to avoid interfering with the childs movements and to facilitate the flexing of the arms for engagement and disengagement.

The angle 29 formed by the first inward bend of the S-shaped terminal portion is about 45 degrees and the following straight portion 31 is one inch. The angle 33 formed by the second inward bend is about 45 degrees and the final portion 35 is /2 inch.

The slot in the chair arms is @51 inch wide as indicated at A in FIGURE 3 and is 4 inch across and /8 inch deep as indicated at B and C respectively. The width of the chair arm shown at D is 4 inch.

In a further embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURE 6, the resilient loop 1' is a separate element aflixed to the resilient arms as indicated, for example by welding. The resilient loop is expanded by means of extensions 39, and the resilient arms 3' are engaged in the manner previously described. This embodiment has the advantage, at times, of easier removal and replacement of the bottle.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder and latch for supporting articles such as infants feeding bottles and the like which comprises, in combination, a support means adapted to hold a bottle or like article; two resilient arms connected to and extending from said support; each of said arms having respective S-shaped terminal members directed inwardly toward each other; the S-shaped terminal members having respectively, in sequence, a first inward bend, a portion extending back toward the support means, a second inward bend and a final portion extending away from the support means; two latching means pivotally engaging the respective S-shaped terminal members, each latching means being capable of preventing accidental disengagement of the engaged S-shaped member and having (1) a first stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with the portion thereof intermediate the first and second bends when the support means is moved toward the latching means and to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by engaging the final portion thereof when said resilient arms are moved apart, (2) a second stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with the final portion thereof when the resilient arms are moved toward each other, and (3) a third stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with a portion intermediate the first bend and the final portion thereof when the support means is moved away from the latching means, said first and third stops having an opening therebetween through which the final portion of the engaged S-shape d member can be withdrawn upon alignment therewith by the action of a rotational force exerted on the connecting resilient arm, said rotational force tending to move the final portion of the S-shaped member toward the support means.

2. A holder and latch for supporting articles such as childrens feeding bottles and the like which comprises, in combination, a resilient loop adapted to be forcibly expanded to receive a bottle or like article and to contract upon the removal of force therefrom and firmly hold said bottle; two resilient arms connected to and extending from said loop which when moved away from each other exert a force which tends to contract said loop and which when moved toward each other tend to expand said loop; each of said arms having respective S-shaped terminal members directed inwardly toward each other at a common distance from the resilient loop; the S-shaped terminal members having respectively, in sequence, a first inward bend, a portion extend ng back toward the loop, a second inward bend and a final portion extending away from the resilient loop; two latching means pivotally engaging the respective S-shaped terminal members, each latching means being capable of preventing accidental disengagement of the engaged S-shaped member and having (1) a first stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with the portion thereof intermediate the first and second bends when the resilient loop is moved toward the latching means and to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by engaging the final portion thereof when said resilient arms are moved apart, (2) a second stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with the final portion thereof when the resilient arms are moved toward each other, and (3) a third stop arranged to limit movement of the engaged S-shaped member by contact with a portion intermediate the first bend and the final portion thereof when the resilient loop is moved away from the latching means, said first and third stops having an opening therebetween through which the final portion of the engaged S-shaped member can be withdrawn upon alignment therewith by the action of a rotational force exerted on the connecting resilient arm, said rotational force tending to move the final portion of the S-shaped member toward the resilient loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 897,034 Turner Aug. 25, 1908 1,158,059 Klauberg Oct. 26, 1915 1,407,681 Saunders Feb. 21, 1922 1,544,291 Wright June 30, 1925 1,554,118 Moran Sept. 15, 1925 2,557,570 Saiger June 19, 1951 

1. A HOLDER AND LATCH FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES SUCH AS INFANTS'' FEEDING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO HOLD A BOTTLE OR LIKE ARTICLE; TWO RESILIENT ARMS CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID SUPPORT; EACH OF SAID ARMS HAVING RESPECTIVE S-SHAPED TERMINAL MEMBERS DIRECTED INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER; THE S-SHAPED TERMINAL MEMBERS HAVING RESPECTIVELY, IN SEQUENCE, A FIRST INWARD BEND, A PORTION EXTENDING BACK TOWARD THE SUPPORT MEANS, A SECOND INWARD BEND AND A FINAL PORTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT MEANS; TWO LATCHING MEANS PIVOTALLY ENGAGING THE RESPECTIVE S-SHAPED TERMINAL MEMBERS, EACH LATCHING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL DISENGAGEMENT OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER AND HAVING (1) A FIRST STOP ARRANGED TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER BY CONTACT WITH THE PORTION THEREOF INTERMEDIATE THE FIRST AND SECOND BENDS WHEN THE SUPPORT MEANS IS MOVED TOWARD THE LATCHING MEANS AND TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER BY ENGAGING THE FINAL PORTION THEREOF WHEN SAID RESILIENT ARMS ARE MOVED APART, (2) A SECOND STOP ARRANGED TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER BY CONTACT WITH THE FINAL PORTION THEREOF WHEN THE RESILIENT ARMS ARE MOVED TOWARD EACH OTHER, AND (3) A THIRD STOP ARRANGED TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER BY CONTACT WITH A PORTION INTERMEDIATE THE FIRST BEND AND THE FINAL PORTION THEREOF WHEN THE SUPPORT MEANS IS MOVED AWAY FROM THE LATCHING MEANS, SAID FIRST AND THIRD STOPS HAVING AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN THROUGH WHICH THE FINAL PORTION OF THE ENGAGED S-SHAPED MEMBER CAN BE WITHDRAWN UPON ALIGNMENT THEREWITH BY THE ACTION OF A ROTATIONAL FORCE EXERTED ON THE CONNECTING RESILIENT ARM, SAID ROTATIONAL FORCE TENDING TO MOVE THE FINAL PORTION OF THE S-SHAPED MEMBER TOWARD THE SUPPORT MEANS. 